Catalina 320 panel at Nav station says "weak charging" , Charles 30 amp inverter always reads 0, fridge at 60 degrees, batteries 1.3 years old. micro wave works, 120 volt heater works, shore power on. Can any one tell me where to start?
Electrical charging problem
- Thread starter Ted10028
- Start date
Start with a multimeter, measuring the voltage at the battery posts. When the shore power is on and the battery charger is running you should see something in the low 13 volts or more. If not then your shore charger isn’t charging for some reason.
Do you see the weak charging light when the engine is running or all the time? If all the time I’ll defer to other 320 owners to say what that means. My guess is it’s a warning light for bad alternator function when the engine is running. If you have both both bad alternator function and lack of shore charging that would be surprising - a failure in both systems wouldn’t be too likely. If that were the case I’d suspect one of the batteries has gotten an internal short and is preventing any charging source from getting up to a good voltage. The bad battery might be warm or hot, and if it is you should disconnect it before it causes any more damage.
Do you see the weak charging light when the engine is running or all the time? If all the time I’ll defer to other 320 owners to say what that means. My guess is it’s a warning light for bad alternator function when the engine is running. If you have both both bad alternator function and lack of shore charging that would be surprising - a failure in both systems wouldn’t be too likely. If that were the case I’d suspect one of the batteries has gotten an internal short and is preventing any charging source from getting up to a good voltage. The bad battery might be warm or hot, and if it is you should disconnect it before it causes any more damage.
I think the batteries will read low because they are not charging. They are new or almost so I'm thinking its the inverter. Is there an easy way to test the inverter. Have not tried to start the engine
it's a Charles 30 amp charger. So maybe the charger isn't working.? The AC on the boat seems to be working I can run the microwave and 120 V heater. It has a meter on the front but it is always stuck at zero. Do you think that means the charger is not working?
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,146
Ted. From the way you are describing the issue, it sounds like Marine electrical systems are a new thing. If so you should either seek an electrical marine professional, take a class or you have to do a bit of reading to understand the electrical systems on your boat.
The Battery is part of the DC system. It can store power from either the Alternator on the engine or the Charles 30 amp charger you identify.
The other source of power is from the plug you run ashore to the dock power plug. This dock connection ( in the big yellow or orange extension cord) provides 120 Volt 30 amp AC electrical power. In the boat it controled by the AC panel.
The Charger (which could be in the same unit called an Charge/Inverter - have no idea what you have) Takes AC 120V power from the shore and changes it to 12V DC power to charge your batteries.
There will be AC or DC breakers on the appropriate panel to turn these units on or off. (A picture of your panels at the Nav station would be helpful.)
This does not answer the specific question you posted, I know. We need to know from you which of the units are not working. Pictures of your system and machine labels are a good place to start.
Here is one book to start you understanding.
Boatowner′s Mechanical and Electrical Manual, third edition
Nigel Calder
Maintain, repair, and improve a boats essential systems. A comprehensive guide to electrical, mechanical, and propulsion systems.
The Battery is part of the DC system. It can store power from either the Alternator on the engine or the Charles 30 amp charger you identify.
The other source of power is from the plug you run ashore to the dock power plug. This dock connection ( in the big yellow or orange extension cord) provides 120 Volt 30 amp AC electrical power. In the boat it controled by the AC panel.
An inverter takes DC 12 V power and inverts it into AC 120 V power.
The Charger (which could be in the same unit called an Charge/Inverter - have no idea what you have) Takes AC 120V power from the shore and changes it to 12V DC power to charge your batteries.
There will be AC or DC breakers on the appropriate panel to turn these units on or off. (A picture of your panels at the Nav station would be helpful.)
This does not answer the specific question you posted, I know. We need to know from you which of the units are not working. Pictures of your system and machine labels are a good place to start.
Here is one book to start you understanding.
Boatowner′s Mechanical and Electrical Manual, third edition
Nigel Calder
Maintain, repair, and improve a boats essential systems. A comprehensive guide to electrical, mechanical, and propulsion systems.